With its golden beaches, stunning and vast interior, famous outdoor lifestyle and a really good quality of living, Australia still remains one of the top destinations for Brits who want to live overseas.
A continent in its own right, Australia still excites the imagination for many and offers the promise of new adventures and a fresh start for those looking to make a change in their life. If you are under 45 and have a skill, or you have family already living Down Under, you can apply to live there, but once you get to Australia what are the most important things to organise?
In this article we’ll look at living in Australia and setting up your new life there for would be expatriates planning a new life in the sun.
In terms of the most important things to get organsied once you’ve made the move and have landed in Australia, surprisingly it is not getting the surfboard waxed, or the bikini line for that matter! There are a number of things that new residents need to organise in order to get their new life in Australia off to a good start. If you are going to be working in Australia or receiving any form of income, you are going to need to apply for a tax file number. This just needs a call to the Australian Taxation Office and they can send the form to you, or alternatively you can apply online at their website.
The government provides help with medical expenses through the Medicare scheme and all expats living in Australia need to join within 7 to 10 days of moving to Australia. The Medicare scheme offers free public hospital care, subsidised medicines and help with out of hospital care. In order to register you need to go to a Medicare centre with your passport, travel docs and permanent visa, and after about 3 weeks you will receive your Medicare card.
Next up is opening a bank account. If you open a bank account within 6 weeks of moving to Australia you will only need your passport to open a bank account. After 6 weeks you will need additional ID so get it opened early and advise the bank of your Tax File Number to avoid paying higher taxes. Most income and salaries for people living in Australia are paid directly into their bank accounts.
New residents can also register with Centrelink. This is a government office that gives job seeking assistance, social security payments and other assistance to people living in Australia. The Centrelink office can also help with having overseas skills recognised. Family assistance payments are also made from this office.
If you have moved to Australia with mini Bruce and Sheila in tow you will need to get them enrolled in school. Between the ages of 5 and 15 children living in Australia must attend school.
Finally, as an expat starting a new life in Australia you need to get your driving licence sorted out. You can drive for the first 3 months on a licence from another country, but after this period you will need an Australian driving licence. This usually requires a practical test, knowledge test and eyesight test. The traffic regulations and drink driving laws in Australia are pretty strict and the days of the “pub car” and men only drinking halls are over - what price progress!
